EP1731462B1 - Foil dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a film dispenser for household plastic film.

The US 3,199,394 describes a dispenser for an adhesive strip. When removing the strip, the adhesive is exposed and used for temporary fixing on the surface of two webs before and during cutting of the strip. The material of the webs, and in particular their adhesive surface can be chosen arbitrarily and does not have to be specially adapted to the material of the strip, since the strip contains adhesive that adheres substantially everywhere. Household plastic films, however, are never provided with adhesive, since this is neither necessary nor helpful in any way for the intended use of plastic household foil. On the contrary, the use of adhesive would prevent the household plastic film from being used, for example, for wrapping or covering food.

The US 6,223,639 describes an aluminum foil dispenser comprising a cutting rail with two lateral guide surfaces and a central slot on which a separator provided with a hold-down device runs. The hold-down comprises a plurality of rollers, which are arranged on both sides of a separating knife and run on the guide surfaces. For cutting, the film is pulled over the guide surface and the slot between them and the separator is moved over the film. As a result, the aluminum foil is pressed on both sides of the knife by the rollers on the guide surface and thus held and held down.

The US 2004/040429 describes a film dispenser for packaging material, which has a separating rail, which contains a slot between two parallel guide surfaces. In the slot, the knife of a separator dips.

Film dispensers for household films in the form of thin plastic films, the so-called cling films, are on the market in large numbers. These films are very thin and adhere very easily to each other, so that a clean separation of usable pieces of the film from a supply, such as a film roll, always presents a challenge. A variety of constructions have been described to facilitate the portioning of these films. For example, most sales packaging for such films contain a separator in the form of a tearing edge over which the film is torn off. There are also known film dispensers, for example from the DE 101 30 578 A1 or the DE 91 11 783 U1 having a separate foil cutter which is passed through the film. A problem with all known constructions is the fact that the film, at the lowest pressure exerted in its plane of extension, tends to collapse and form wrinkles that stick together. Collapsing this type is almost inevitable, for example, when the film has to be torn off over a tear edge. But even when separating the film using a foil cutter is to be expected with an undesirable wrinkling. For this reason, for example, in the DE 101 30 578 expressly pointed out that the film must be held down with two fingers in front of the foil cutter and kept taut. The foil dispenser of DE 91 11 783 U1 a hold-down in the form of a frusto-conical friction wheel is provided, which moves together with the film cutter on the film to hold down and tension it. Furthermore, this film dispenser includes a knife holder which is designed so that it holds the already withdrawn from the stock film against a housing. However, both components are moved, so that there is still the risk that the film collapses and forms adhering folds.

The invention has for its object to provide a film dispenser, wherein the film can be securely held in a structurally simple manner.

The object is solved by the features specified in claim 1.

The stationary design of the blank holder and its assignment to the holder ensures that pieces of film can be safely and cleanly separated along a dividing line without the laborious and cumbersome manual holding of the foil, without the risk of the foil being pushed together. The hold-down includes an adhesion-adhering surface of a material forming an adhesive-pairing with the material of the film. These hold-downs are easy and easy to engage and disengage from the film with no additional handle required. Furthermore, no effects on the film are necessary, as do, for example, in holes engaging projections, knurled or toothed pinch wheels or the like. Although it is for example already out of the DE 91 11 783 U1 known that films, especially plastic household films, for example, adhere to polished surfaces, but there is rather exploited the fact that the films do not adhere to matte surfaces,
wherein, for example, all parts that are in contact with the free, already withdrawn from the stock piece of film, such as the knife carrier that holds the beginning of film and areas on both sides of a Messemut, are frosted to avoid sticking.

Advantageous developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

The invention is particularly useful when it comes to keep the already withdrawn from the stock, after separating a piece of film left free edge both when separating and then smooth and tense. For this reason, the hold-down should preferably be arranged between the supply and the dividing line.

However, at the side facing away from the supply side of the dividing line down device is also advantageous; on the one hand it improves the tension of the film when separating and on the other he holds the separated piece of film firmly, so that this also remains smooth and tense. For example, if the foil dispenser is hung on a wall, the hold-down means arranged below the dividing line protects the foil from falling down.

The adhesive surface preferably extends along the dividing line to take advantage of all available space for adhering the film.

Preferably, however, on both sides of the dividing line each extending an adhesive surface, whereby on the one hand optimizes the holding down of the film during the separation and on the other hand held both the separated piece of film and the already deducted from the stock edge of the remaining film ready for use.

A structurally particularly preferred and simple embodiment results when guide rails for a film cutter and hold-down are combined by providing the rail with an adhesive surface.

By measuring the distances of the adhesive surfaces to the dividing lines, it is possible to determine how large and where, after the separation of the film piece, there is a free piece of the remaining film or the separated film piece that can be grasped by the user. For example, if the distance between the parting line and the storage-facing adhesive surface is greater than the distance to the other adhesive surface, remains after separation connected to the stock end of the film a larger, not fixed by the holddown area that can be grasped by the user, to remove a new piece of film from the stock to be cut off. In contrast, the cut piece of film still adheres to the adhesive surface in the vicinity of the dividing line, so that the film is held there smooth and taut.

Contains the separator a foil cutter, it should reinforce the hold-down effect, so in particular apply a directed in the direction of the hold-down pressure on the film. This is achieved for example by a correspondingly inclined cutting edge.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Folienspenders,

Fig. 2

die Seitenansicht der Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

den Schnitt III-III aus Fig. 1 in vergrößerter Darstellung, und

Fig. 4

einen Schlitten einer Trenneinrichtung in unterschiedlichen Darstellungen, wobei Fig. 4A eine perspektivische Ansicht von unten, Fig. 4B eine Seitenansicht und Fig. 4C eine Ansicht entlang der Trennlinie ist.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an embodiment of a film dispenser according to the invention,

Fig. 2

the side view of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

the section III-III Fig. 1 in an enlarged view, and

Fig. 4

a slide a separator in different representations, wherein Fig. 4A a perspective view from below, Fig. 4B a side view and Fig. 4C is a view along the dividing line.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective, schematic representation of a first embodiment of a film dispenser 1. The film dispenser 1 includes a housing 2, in which on a suitable holder 3, for example a in Fig. 3 Core rod shown in detail, a stock 4 of a film 5, for example, a film roll, is added. The housing 2 is formed reusable in the illustrated embodiment and consists for example of metal, plastic or other durable material. However, the invention can also be used in the usual sales packaging.

The housing 2 can be opened in a suitable manner, so that the supply 4 can be exchanged. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 2 is formed, for example, for attachment to a wall and includes a rear wall 2a, which is provided with corresponding fastening elements, such as eyelets. However, the housing 2 can also be designed to be placed on its bottom wall 2b. The housing 2 further includes a front side 2c, which is designed as a visible surface and for better top view extends at least partially at a deviating angle of 90 ° to the rear wall 2a and / or the bottom 2b and the rear wall 2a connects to the bottom 2b. Finally, side walls 2d and 2e are provided, which laterally support the housing 2 and, for example, support the holder 3 with the supply 4.

In the front wall 2 c, preferably in the oblique region, a large opening 6 is provided which allows access to the film 5 of the stock 4 and is designed as a withdrawal or removal opening. The opening 6 is larger than would be necessary from the dimensions of the film 5 ago; In particular, the opening 6 has a width b which appreciably exceeds the width of the film 5, for example by the width of two fingers, i. at least 2 cm. The length I in the withdrawal direction of the film 5 from the stock 4 is preferably between 1 and 5 cm.

The opening 6 is associated with a hold-down 9. The hold-down 9 is stationary and has e.g. a fixed distance to the holder 3, which does not change when removing the film 5. The hold-down device 9 contains an adhesive surface 7, which limits the opening 6 on its side facing the bottom 2b. In the illustrated embodiment, the adhesive surface 7 extends in the plane of the front wall 2c and at least over the entire width b of the opening 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the adhesive surface 7 replaces the front wall 2c in the ground area and extends between the two side walls 2d and 2e.

At a distance a above the adhesive surface 7, i. in the direction of the supply 4 and away from the bottom 2b, a second adhesive surface 8 is provided to form a gap 6b. The second adhesive surface 8 extends substantially over the entire width b of the opening 6. However, the adhesive surface 8 is located at a distance c below the upper boundary of the opening 6, wherein the distance c is in any case greater than the thickness of the film 5 and preferably is dimensioned so that when filling a supply 4 in the housing 2 of the film beginning through the forming gap 6a can be easily inserted through, and the film can be removed safely and without sharp changes in direction from the stock.

The adhesive surfaces 7 and 8 are formed as adhesion surfaces for forming an adhesion pairing with the material of the film 5. The formation of the adhesive surfaces 7, 8 thus depends on the material of the film 5 and must be matched to this be. Suitable adhesion pairings can be determined empirically in a simple manner. For the use of household plastic films, such as the known cling films made of polyethylene, is particularly suitable a polished or slightly brushed at least surface of metal, such as stainless steel. However, it has been found that this type of film 5 with many smooth surfaces without high surface roughness, so for example chromed or painted, especially glossy surfaces, surfaces of non-frosted glass or porcelain or the like. Form a sufficient adhesion pairing. The adhesion forces exerted by the surfaces 7 and 8 on the film 5 should be so strong that they tension the film 5 against light forces, as they occur for example during transport through the transport wind and in the following to be described separating the film, position fixation and smooth hold, so that the adhesive surfaces 7 and 8 act as hold-down 9. In order to ensure sufficient adhesion, the adhesive surfaces 7, 8 in the withdrawal direction A of the film 5 from the roll 4 should have a sufficient width d, for example preferably between 0.5 and 2 cm wide.

The foil 5 is first inserted from the supply 4 through the gap-shaped region 6a of the opening 6 determined by the distance c and is then moved over the upper adhesive surface 8, without touching it, over the gap-shaped region 6b and over the lower adhesive surface 7, again without touching them, pulled and is then placed on both adhesive surfaces 7, 8 and held by this. The removal of the film 5 is facilitated by the film width exceeding width b and in particular the gap 6 b, which forms an access space for gripping the films through the opening 6 therethrough.

The film dispenser 1 according to the invention is further equipped with a separating device 10 for separating film sections. The separator 10 will be described below with reference to 3 and 4 explained.

The separating device 10 comprises a carriage 11 with a film cutter 12, which is used to form a parting line 13 (FIG. Fig. 1 ) is movable across the film 5. The carriage 11 is guided during its movement through at least one guide rail, wherein in the illustrated embodiment, a lower guide rail 14a and an upper guide rail 14b are provided. The guide rails 14a, 14b are provided on their outwardly facing tops with the adhesive surfaces 7, 8 and extend over the entire width b of the opening 6, preferably over the entire distance between the side walls 2e, 2d. The guide rails 14a, 14b are further provided with a respective guide groove 15a, 15b, the guide webs 16a, 16b, 16c of the carriage 11 record. Preferably, the guide rails 14a, 14b each consist of a sheet-metal strip made of stainless steel and are bent in a clamp shape, so that the flat upper surface can serve as an adhesive surface 7, 8 of the hold-down 9 and the interior forms the guide groove 15a, 15b. In this case, the adhesive surfaces 7, 8 preferably extend over the entire upper side of the guide rails 14a, 14b.

The carriage 11 includes a suitably formed handle 17, which is connected via a connecting web 18 with the guide webs 16a, b, c. The guide webs 16a, 16b, 16c are connected to the connecting web 18 via arms 19, wherein for a three-point guidance of one of the guide webs 16a projects via an arm 19a on one side of the connecting web 18, while the other two guide webs 16b, c via projecting a second arm 19b on the opposite side of the connecting web 18 and spaced apart in the direction of the parting line 13 and offset from the guide web 16a.

One of the two arms 19a, 19b, in the illustrated embodiment, the arm 19a for the single guide web 16a, has a greater distance from the connecting web 18 than the other arm.

The connecting web 18 carries the film cutter 12, which is knife-like in the illustrated embodiment and two cutting edges 12a, 12b, which are arranged along the parting line 13 in a row and are formed cutting in opposite directions. The cutting edges 12a, 12b are aligned symmetrically at an angle α to the horizontal. The film cutter 12 is constructed such that it exerts a pressure on the film 5 when it is cut, which has the largest possible component perpendicular to the plane of the film 5. This is effected in the illustrated embodiment by an expedient dimensioning of the angle α, which is less than or equal to 45 °.

Below each cutting edge 12a, 12b is an engagement protection, which protects against accidental contact with the cutting edge and can also serve as a cutting guide for trapping the film 5. In the illustrated embodiment, a web 20a, 20b is provided for this purpose at a distance below each cutting edge 12a, 12b.

The carriage 11 is, as in particular from the Fig. 1 and 3 can be seen, so inserted into the guide rails 14a, 14b, that the guide web 16a, which is located on the long arm 19a, in the guide groove 15b of the upper, ie in the withdrawal direction A the supply 4 facing guide rail 14b, and the guide webs 16b, 16c on short arm are inserted into the guide groove 15a of the lower rail 14a. The length of the arms 19a, 19b is dimensioned so that the cutting edges 12a, 12b of the film cutter 12 are located between the adhesive surfaces 7, 8 at or in the immediate vicinity of the upper boundary of the lower adhesive surface 7, so that the parting line 13 at or just above the second adhesive surface 8 facing upper limit of the lower adhesive surface 7 is formed when the carriage 11 from its in Fig. 1 shown position is moved to the right of the film 5 through the slides in its left position next to the film 5 and the film cuts.

During the cutting, the film 5 is held on both adhesive surfaces 7, 8, so that they can not move and in particular forms no cohesive folds. This adhesion is still supported by the cutting edges 12a, 12b of the film cutter 12, which load the film against the adhesive surfaces 7, 8. In this way, a clean separation of the film is possible.

After cutting, however, both the still connected to the stock 4 slide 5 on the adhesive surface 8 and the already cut piece of the film 5 hang on the adhesive surface 7, so that they continue to remain in the clamped state. The user can now grasp the separated piece of foil with both hands after having released the handle 17 and keep it tensioned until the intended use.

The still connected to the stock 4 slide 5 is with its free edge edge, however, on the upper adhesive surface 8 down before, where it can be taken by the user by engaging in the gap 6b of the opening 6 in a simple manner when a new piece of Slide 5 is to be deducted in the withdrawal direction A from the stock 4.

In a modification of the described and illustrated embodiment may possibly be provided only an adhesive surface. Furthermore, the adhesive surfaces can only be partially effective.

It is also possible to use the hold-down invention also in sales packaging. Finally, the holding-down device according to the invention is also advantageous if a structurally deviating foil cutter, for example crescent-shaped or differently shaped cutting edges, a cutting wheel, or a separating device operating according to another principle, for example a tear-off edge, is used.

Claims (12)

1. Film dispenser (1) comprising a holder (3) for a supply (4) of a household film (5) made of plastics material, a withdrawal opening (6), a severing means (10) for severing the film along a severing line (13), and a hold-down means (9), formed so as to be stationary and attached to the holder (3), for holding the film (5) in place, wherein the hold-down means (9) contains an adhesion surface (7, 8) made of a material which forms an adhesive combination with the material of the film (5).
2. Film dispenser according to claim 1, characterised in that the hold-down means (9) is arranged between the supply (4) and the severing line (13).
3. Film dispenser according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the hold-down means (9) is arranged on the side of the severing line (13) remote from the supply (4).
4. Film dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that free space (6b) for access to the film (5) is provided between the hold-down means (9) and the supply (4).
5. Film dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the hold-down means (9) for a household film (5) made of polyethylene contains an adhesion surface (7, 8) made of a polished or lightly brush-finished metal, preferably high-grade steel, or a gloss varnish or chromium coating, or non-matted glass or porcelain.
6. Film dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the adhesion surface (7, 8) extends along the severing line (13).
7. Film dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a respective adhesion surface (7, 8) extends on either side of the severing line (13).
8. Film dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the severing means (10) contains a film cutter (12), which can be moved along the severing line (13) and is displaceable on at least one rail (14a, 14b) extending along the severing line (13), the rail (14a, 14b) being provided with an adhesion surface (7, 8) for the film (5).
9. Film dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the severing means (10) contains a film cutter (12), which can be moved along the severing line (13), is displaceable on two rails (14a, 14b) extending along the severing line (13) and severs the film between the rails (14a, 14b), each of the rails (14a, 14b) being provided with an adhesion surface (7, 8) for the film (5).
10. Film dispenser according to either claim 7 or claim 9, characterised in that the adhesion surface (8) on the side of the severing line (13) facing the supply (4) is at a greater distance from the severing line than the adhesion surface (7) on the side of the severing line (13) remote from the supply (4).
11. Film dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the severing means (10) contains a film cutter (12) which strengthens the hold-down effect.
12. Film dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the severing means (10) comprises a slide (11), which can be moved along the severing line (13) and comprises a film cutter (12) containing a first and a second blade (12a, 12b), the blades (12a, 12b) converging in a V-shape and the angle (α) enclosed by each blade (12a, 12b) with the severing line (13) being less than 45°, preferably 30°.

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